Macro

More possibilities than certainties

This selection of close-up photo’s of insects and arachnids are from 4 locations over the last few weeks, Ramsdown Wood, High Wood, Blashford Lakes nature reserve, and Pamber Forest. The last being a 1st, my first visit to Pamber Forest which is situated just outside Basingstoke. This reserve is managed by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and is a mixture of woodland and gorse heathland.

You may be wondering on the meaning behind the title of the post. Its simply based on the fact that I struggle a lot of time to be precise on the ID of a particular insect or spider, hence more possibilites than certainities.

I will start off with the certainities.

This first lot are definitely spiders though I am not sure the exact type!

This pair of mating spiders were found at Ramsdown Wood, possibly mating wolf spiders.

Mating Spiders
Mating Spiders
Mating Spiders (II)
Mating Spiders (II)

whereas this much smaller spider was discovered at Pamber Forest.

A Spider
A Spider

These are certainly male St Mark’s Flies (Bibio marci). The 1st is sitting on a leaf at Blashford Lakes nature reserve, and the second is sitting on yellow gorse flower at Pamber Forest.

Male St Mark's Fly (Bibio marci)
Male St Mark’s Fly (Bibio marci)
Yellow & Black
Yellow & Black

This is definitley a Dark-Edged Bee-Fly (Bombylius major), High Wood.

Dark-Edged Bee-Fly (Bombylius major)
Dark-Edged Bee-Fly (Bombylius major)

and this is without a doubt a Red Ant (Myrmica)

Jaws
Jaws

The last of the certainites is this Platystomos albinus weevil, a member of the Anthribidae family of weevils. High Wood.

Platystomos albinus weevil
Platystomos albinus weevil

Now on to the possibilities ….

A possible Philonthus decorus member of the Rove Beetles family (Staphylinidae). High Wood.

Possible Philonthus decorus member of the Rove Beetles family Staphylinidae
Possible Philonthus decorus member of the Rove Beetles family Staphylinidae

This could be a specie of Snail-Killing Fly Sciomyzidae. High Wood.

Possible specie of Snail-Killing Fly Sciomyzidae
Possible specie of Snail-Killing Fly Sciomyzidae

Maybe this next fly is one of the Muscidae Allie flies.

Muscidae household/Allie fly?
Muscidae household/Allie fly?

This blue beetle might be a Chrysolina oricalcia leaf beetle

Possible Chrysolina oricalcia leaf beetle
Possible Chrysolina oricalcia leaf beetle

No real idea what this final one is so a stab in a dark at possible Froghopper larvae. Pamber Forest.

Possible Froghopper larvae x2
Possible Froghopper larvae x2

This 5x mag. shot gives you a better view of this strange little fellow.

Possible Froghopper larvae x5
Possible Froghopper larvae x5

Blashford Lakes

[mappress mapid=”3″]

Ramsdown

[mappress mapid=”78″]

Pamber Forest

[mappress mapid=”136″]

Pete

I have been shooting nature with Olympus digital & Olympus OM camera gear on film since 2004

Add any comments or questions here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

%d